Bath Rugby's partnership with the University of Bath continues to flourish

2 November 2018

The Bath Rugby partnership programme with the University of Bath is a key strand of the Club's player and coach development strategy, and with the partnership now in it’s second season, it is both showing positive signs and producing some great outcomes for the future.

The University of Bath secured their fourth consecutive victory yesterday afternoon to climb to the top of the BUCS Super Rugby standings. Bath Rugby Academy’s Wil Partington, Kieran Verden and Tom Doughty were all in action in the 23-29 victory over Nottingham Trent, with Partington scoring his second try in as many games.

Bath Rugby and the University of Bath have been working closely to provide a competitive environment, which enables players to excel along a pathway whether they are students at the University or within the Academy squad.

Under the leadership of University of Bath's Head of Rugby, Aaron James, the Bath Rugby staff that lead the coaching programme, Mark Lilley and Louis Messer, with Rowan O’Brien as Head Analyst, are all developing their coaching experience alongside a exciting group of players at the University.

Darren Atkins, Josh Bayliss, Will Britton, Levi Davis, Jack Davies and Miles Reid all featured for the Bath Rugby first team last weekend having all been past or present students at the University of Bath.

Academy Manager, Andy Rock, said: “The opportunity for some of our highest potential players and coaches to work together every day, within a competitive programme like the BUCS Super Rugby League is fantastic for the future of the Club.

“High performing partnerships in our region, such as this one with the University of Bath are absolutely crucial to our long-term success, and our ability to develop home grown players and coaches.”